HONG KONG (AFP) – Hong Kong issued its third-highest storm warning signal – prompting the closure of some transport services and schools – yesterday as Typhoon Koinu skirted the financial hub, bringing rains and powerful gusts.
Koinu comes just a month after the financial hub was lashed by Typhoon Saola, which triggered Hong Kong’s highest “T10” storm alert.
A week after that, the city experienced its highest rainfall in nearly 140 years, flooding subway stations and malls, and causing landslides.
Hong Kong’s weather observatory yesterday warned of strong winds and intense rain bands as Koinu moved towards the Pearl River Estuary and entered within 100 kilometres south of the city.
“Koinu will be closest to Hong Kong tonight, skirting about 70 kilometres south,” said the Hong Kong Observatory, warning the public to avoid low-lying areas in case of a storm surge.
It added that it would assess the need to issue higher storm warning signals based on wind speeds.
Typhoon Koinu’s “T8” signal – the third-highest in Hong Kong’s warning system – is triggered when a storm’s sustained wind speed goes up to 117 kilometres per hour. The storm’s maximum sustained wind speed was observed at 145 kilometres per hour.
